2008 Woodie Awards
Women split opening weekend in Carolina
Pete Theis
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Sports
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Loyola (1-1), who played solidly in a loss to North Carolina on Friday, wasted no time getting on the board as senior Kate Filippelli scored just 26 seconds into the game. O'Keefe found the back of the net four minutes later, and with 20 minutes remaining in the half the Hounds were up 6-1. Loyola then took an 8-2 lead as the O'Keefe sisters (Bridgette and Colleen) tallied back-to-back scores. The Hounds held a 10-4 lead going into halftime.
Davidson rattled off three straight goals in the second half in their bid for a comeback, but sophomore Emily Gibson ended the run when she took possession of the draw and started a transition goal that ended with freshman Mary Heneberry's score.
"Our returners this year are talking a lot more on the field and really sharing the ball better," head coach Kerri O'Day said. "As a result of the communication we are playing better with our transition game."
From there the Greyhounds scored three straight goals to go up by six; O'Keefe, Gibson and junior Elizabeth Weber all tallied goals during the run.
Loyola's defense, aided by senior Kristen Stone, only allowed two more scores from the Wildcats the rest of the game.
Alongside O'Keefe's four goals, Filippelli and freshman Abby Rehfuss each added three tallies.
"The freshmen this year have definitely given us a lot of talent," O'Day said. "They not only shoot well but make a big impact on both offense and defense."
The freshman also play quite a role in Friday's season opener. Freshman midfielder Grace Gavin shinned in her first collegiate game, scoring three goals and tallying an assist against North Carolina on Friday night in Chapel Hill, but the Tar Heels depth and power proved to be too much to handle as the Hounds fell short, 13-9.
The Hounds got off to a great start after Fillipelli won the opening face-off and raced down the field to score the first goal of the year for Loyola just 12 seconds into the contest.
UNC then went on a 4-0 run, but Gavin notched her first goal to spark a 3-0 Loyola surge, tying the game at four. The Tar Heels reclaimed the lead, but a goal by Webber tied the game at five with just over two minutes before halftime. However, the Tar Heels answered back with two quick scores in the final 30 seconds after North Carolina took the draw control and converted in transition.
The Hounds found some momentum at the start of the second half when freshman Abby Rehfuss pulled Loyola within one goal, 7-6. However, the offensive strength of the Tar Heels propelled them to four unanswered goals to take an 11-6 advantage.
Loyola climbed back within two after freshman Caroline Hagar scored off of a Gavin pass, and Colleen O'Keefe and Gavin added two more as Loyola went on a 3-0 run.
But Parks ended all hopes of a comeback by scoring two goals in the final three minutes to put away a closely fought battle between the two squads.
Freshman Meg Steffe made eight saves in the net in her first collegiate appearance.
Loyola plays two more on the road, starting with Georgetown on Saturday at 3 pm, before their home opener against Towson on March 1.
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